Petition from and to the international monastic and lay Sanghasigned with the heart without name

Introduction and description:

This
petition is on the one hand a humble declaration and affirmation of the
exalted ethical status of the monastic Sangha, and for the sustainment
and in support of this consideration also thought as a relief of burden
of the monastic Sangha regarding worldly affairs, and therefore as a
support for a long lasting further existence of the Dhamma-Vinaya (the
teaching of the Buddha) in our age.

This petition is directed to
all who are devoted to the holy life in accordance with the ancient
tradition, who find themselves feeling unsettled or endangered for one
reason or the other, who feel themselves lacking in confidence, or miss
the strong support of those who, as lay-devotees, care for the long
sustainment of the teachings.

This petition shall serve as a
relief for all those who earnestly take upon themselves the life
according to Dhamma and Vinaya, and even in hard times, in times of
darkness, of profuse sensuality and strong attachment, help them feel
supported sufficiently in order to see the timeless validity and
effectiveness of the Dhamma-Vinaya with their own progress, to find
complete release from the burden of doubt, and for their own well-being
as well as the well-being of all other beings strive for the highest
liberation, maybe even reach it in this very existence.

Even if
we live today in a time of intellectual knowledge, of fast spread of
mere information and easy accessibility of all kinds of gross sensual
representation of the teachings, do living examples, living Dhamma,
living Vinaya represent the factor, the foundation, the cause for
unshakable confidence, enabling it in those who have not gained
confidence yet and strengthening it in those who have some confidence
already.

This petition, this appeal, this declaration, this plea
comprises in summary a "declaration for the relief of the monastic
Sangha" and an "appeal for unshakable confidence in Dhamma and Vinaya
and thereby for uncompromising practice of keeping the rules", and in
support of that also a "commitment to aid and assistance in regard to
the four necessities for monastics and other homeless pracitioners".

The
bhikkhus, bhikkhunis, male and female novices, homeless male and female
practitioners, laymen, laywomen address with this petition all their
companions and associates in the Sangha, as umbrella term for all those
who are aiming to strive on in a wholesome direction but have not yet
gained sufficient confidence, or fear that they may lack support, should
they set out to implement the eightfold path in its totality, or to
keep them from abandoning this existing path.

This petition is
directed furthermore also to leaders of state, governments and persons
in charge of framework requirements, to grant and allow for the freedom
from reification necessary in order not to succumb to relinquishment of
confindence in the Buddhist way of life, since the exercisability of
this way of life is also dependent upon external, societal, national
legal conditions. This concerns a necessary exemption from social and
legal liabilities, concerning both obligation of implementation as well
as obligation of acceptance in regards to the way of receiving the four
requisites (food, clothing, lodging and medicine). This exemption is
compensated in turn by the promise of virtuous adherence to the Buddhist
moral rules and does thereby not present a threat to society in any way
regarding worldly or transcendent desire of any kind, but enriches a
society by an exemplary way of life without exerting undue pressure and
without touching societal rules in any material way at all.

This
petition also addresses however a mutual understanding and endorsement
between those signing with their heart, who agree and remind themselves
to support each other on the path, and to also be willing to admonish
and correct each other in a well-meaning way, as well as an agreement
and approval to being admonished as is appropriate.

This petition
also sets a clear stand-off towards commonly accepted misconduct as has
become customary in some places, and pernicious behaviour even if such
may seem as already being part of the tradition and in certain ways
tolerated and accepted or even sometimes fostered and promoted on a
broad scale.

This petition also speaks out against following
behaviour on the grounds of later commentaries and explanations, the
more so as they do not serve the original purpose and the containment of
the root causes of unwholesome behaviour but are aiming at an
adaptation or a facilitation with regards to the usual acceptableness
and broad accessibility. Unquestionably, present high ethical
accomplishments in society are to be integrated into the understanding,
and even in that case this shall serve as an affirmation, not a
relaxation of the ethical standard.

This petition has as a goal,
as an aspiration only the highest happiness and complete contentment in
the freedom from suffering with the attainment of Nibbana. No worldly
endeavours whatsoever underlie the intention of this petition, even if
such endeavour will unavoidably also contribute to higher worldly
well-being for all living beings.

Authority and signers of this petition:

Neither
the author (who appears as signing only with his heart) nor those
signing with the heart, nor the petition itself constitue in any way a
higher authority in regard to Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.

A
potential authority lies at the utmost in its content of truth and a
righteous realization of a course of action in accordance with it, and
thereby solely the right recognition and implementation will constitue
an expression of authority which accords with the significance of
Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha, while at the same time not mandating for
mitigation nor for addition to their original meaning.

The
persons having come into appearance with this petition see themselves at
the time of signing as bearer of its message in accordance with the
course of Dhamma-Vinaya and affirm with this petition the course of
Dhamma-Vinaya for the wellbeing of a long continuity of the course of
Dhamma-Vinaya and bring in in accordance with the Dhamma-Vinaya to
expression the following concerns for a repeated expression and for an
encouragement of confidence:

Those signing with their heart appeal to each other for confidence that the monastic Sangha completely retreats from worldly matters
as well as advocate thereby that the monastic Sangha may retreat
completely from worldly matters in order to concentrate completely on
the realization of the path once again.

As worldly matters are to be regarded in particular ways of life and activities in:

politics

economy

worldly social work and worldly ancillary services

art, entertainment, wellness and philosophy

as well as structural religious/ideological missionary work

teaching in worldly arts

Remark:
Work and generosity within the scope of spiritual assistence, as a
counselor and critical as well as circumspect advisor, in advising,
impartial and appropriately consulted position are not affected hereby.

Those signing with their heart call to each other for having confidence that a
monastic Sangha living in seclusion and homeless persons are a field of
merit, worthy of support and gifts, and serve as a great target group
for gifts of necessities and assert this declaration for the
relief of concerns and anxieties of those practitioners doubting the
support in this regard.

Lay practitioners of all kinds call to
each other with this petition, in rememberance of monastic and
righteously practicing homeless persons, independent of the kind of
local community and with mental alignment towards the noble Sangha of
the eight persons, to adequately support with the four vital necessities
according to their capability:

with allowed nutrition

with allowed clothing

with allowed lodging

with allowed medicine

Monastic
and homeless practitioners of all kinds call to memory with this
petition, independent of the local community, to share the four
requisites with those in need with a view to fostering due independence.

Those
signing also don't have any doubt in the impermissibility of any means
of exchange and payment for members of the monastic Sangha, be it in
accepting, in using or even in regard to administration and would like
to see these matters completely in the hands of the supporting
laypeople.

Those signing with the heart also call to each other for having confidence in not
only supporting the monastic Sangha living in seclusion and homeless
ascetics in all worldly matters, but to also keep those matters out of
their way as far as possible and partake in establishing a network of support, of sharing and distributing together.

For
this purpose the signing participate in the establishment of a support
cadaster (details see attachment) and handle it in their sphere
conscientiously and responsibly.

Those signing with their heart consider and approve, for
the purpose of relieving the monastic Sangha living in seclusion and
homeless ascetics, and, as a possible intermediate stage, laypeople
striving for the fulfillment of paramis, to support a "community of
Buddhist (boy) scouts". This community shall serve as a refuge
for those present monastics whose paramis have not yet reached the
maturity to devote themselves completely to the supramundane path, and
thereby remove points of conflict from the monastic Sangha. This
community may constitue a network of homeless practitioners and
aspirants to novice ordination who, on the basis of Buddhist ethics,
adopt social work and help projects, which, however, declares itself as
belonging to the monastic Sangha regarding worthiness of suport, and
thereby does not contribute to corruption of the laity in regard to the
Dhamma but can use this manner of practice for advancement and
fulfillment of the paramis aiming towards the holy life.

This
community, apart from support and propragation of worldly support, also
serves as a connecting link, facilitator and essential distributor of
access to the teachings leading to the highest good, without, however,
any official mandate of decision contribution and execution of
procedures of the monastic community.

Those signing with their heart call to each other for having confidence, to
make the Dhamma under no circumstance and out of no higher motivation
whatsoever into an object of business, trade or any other kind of
commercial purpose. Whether in the context of a monastic
project or of a lay project, the trade in Dhamma, the gift of Dhamma in
expectation of something in return or on credit, in the hope of
liquidating the debt stemming from the distribution of Dhamma is in no
way compatible with the ways of Dhamma-Vinaya.

Those signing
aspire to close collaboration in view of the objective of retreating out
of impure business and bring to mind here the call for confidence in
modesty.

Those signing with their heart call to each other for having confidence, in
no way to misuse Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha in any way for worldly
purposes, regarding ideologies or finding majorities for worldly
pursuits and admonish each other never to make Buddha, Dhamma,
Sangha subject to worldly conflicts, be it in the private, the group
communal or the sphere of stately affairs, and mutually support each
other in disencumbering Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha from being a tool of
defense.

Those signing with their heart are conscious
of the incisive impact of new media and means of communication and
disapprove of just shrugging it off as a new phenomenon to be accepted
without consideration for its import in reference to Dhamma-Vinaya.
For this purpose, the participating parties mutually support each other
in standing back from an undue use of these means of networking and
avow to seeing also these means of access and supply as a matter of
supply by and support by the laity.

Approaches to improvement and personal contribution are to be found in the attachment.

Those signing with their heart want to encourage
worldly leaders, dignitaries, statesmen and persons in positions of
responsibility and high status to admonish and rebuke the monastic
Sangha in places where their behaviour has already taken on perishable
dimensions and to inform citizens about and clarify to them righteous
ways of conduct and, if necessary, even act upon these matters in
authoritarian ways for the well-being of all. In the same vein, those
signing want to encourage worldly leaders, dignitaries, statesmen and
persons in positions of responsibility and high status to commend the
special and high status of the Sangha, which is free from worldly
interests, and to inform citizens of the meritorious fruits of
supporting the monastic Sangha with the four requisites.

Those
signing hereby also plea for the recognition of sovereignity of the
monastic Sangha in regard to any worldly, social or communal obligation
whatsoever. This, however, touches in no way penal sovereignity,
especially in regard to a conformity with the ethical rules and may in
such cases entail a stricter line of action in turn.

Furthermore
those signing entreat to keep Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha out of political
day-to-day business and to also not misuse them as a means of opinion
making.

Those signing call to each other for having confidence, that
a life according to Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha does not necessitate any
worldly institution with authority similar as in various religions
and also prescind from making Dhamma-Vinaya into a religious community
out of worldly motives. Rather those signing mutually encourage each
other to make do without recourse to worldly means of authority and
trust in accordance with the way of life of Dhamma and Vinaya to be able
to attain the goal from liberation from suffering within any societal
structure.

In the same vein those signing encourage each other to
stay in and foster a constant dialogue and exchange for the purpose of
elimination of doubts and well-meaning admonishment. Furthermore those
signing are in no way interested in setting themselves apart from other
persuasions and thereby restricting dialogues.

In far as those
signing are laypeople they want to encourage each other to increasingly
take upon themselves the task of dialogue without restriction and
segregation and thereby defuse possibly arising competition situations
and keep them away from the monastic Sangha.

If it is not
difficult for you to sign this petition with your heart, take it to
heart, it will not prove too difficult to also give this present of
confidence from the heart and share it further so that many hearts will
share it, sign it and find the heart's affirmation.

signed

from heart to heart

Sangha vatthu, the field for prosperity of strength of heart.

Attachment:
still open - Dana Cadaster (laity support cadaster), also including
improvement, allocation and support in regard to new media. A perhaps
fruitful discussion is taking place within the laity project for the
establishment of a virtual Vihara (monastery) on the building site http://sangham.net/ . For the Dana Cadaster the domain http://mittata.sangham.net/ has already been set up. (all laity project for the time being)

About the author

Johann registered at Virtual Dhamma-Vinaya Vihara on January 16, 2013, 02:30:38 PM and has posted 9152 posts in the boards since then. Last visit was Today at 11:03:22 AM.